Penn State Football: Lucas And Zettel The Latest To Be Added To Award Watch Lists

Senior defensive tackle Anthony Zettel has been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy Watch Lists, while senior safety Jordan Lucas is now among the nominees for the Nagurski Trophy.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is handed out annually to the National Defensive Player of the Year. The award is named for a legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota, Bronko Nagurski.

The Outland Trophy is named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn at the turn of the 20th century, and is given to the nation’s top interior lineman (offensive or defensive).

Penn State defensive tackle Mike Reid won the Outland Trophy in 1969 and All-America defensive tackle Devon Still was the most recent Nittany Lion finalist, in 2011.

Zettel is a nominee for the Bednarik Award for the National Defensive Player of the Year and claimed preseason first-team All-America accolades from Phil Steele. He was the only FBS player to rank among the national leaders in sacks and interceptions in 2014. The athletic defensive lineman nabbed three interceptions, the most by a PSU defensive lineman since at least 1959.

Lucas has been a preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection by Phil Steele and a second-team All-Big Ten choice by Lindy’s. He was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten pick last season. Lucas' 58 stops in 2014 ranked third on the team and his nine pass breakups ranked among the best in the Big Ten.

The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet, presented by ACN, will be held on Dec. 7 at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte.

The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be held on Jan. 14, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska.